Allison's Daddy, Corey just called. It appears that his little family is safely tucked into their cozy little abode and all is well with the world. I could picture the scenario and all my warm, motherly memories about the 'Coming Home' event flooded my emotions. My husband could tell that I had experienced that sweet reverie so we started talking about the coming home event with each of our children. With Rhiannon, our eldest, the emotion ran from amazement to fear. My parents had respectfully left us alone and there we sat in our living room with this tiniest of infants, 5lb. 11 oz, 18 inches long, and we were supposed to know what to do with her? The scariest moment I could remember; God had placed this needy little girl in our lap and we hadn't a clue what was next. Her future, her stability, her very life was in our seemingly inept hands. Terrifying. I suppose that would explain how the first diaper we put on her was her 'spit up' diaper! Hilarious! Rhiannon came home on the cusp of a blizzard with temperatures well below normalcy. I believe her first weekend home was -32 below zero, wind chill factor. The entire weekend, we spent in bed, cuddled up around our princess of a baby, coming out only for nourishment and bathroom breaks. We piled on the quilts and stared at her the whole time, watching the tiny nuances that break through a sleeping baby's countenance. The wonder of that special weekend, with not only us safely tucked in but everyone that had even thought of coming over, safely stowed away in their own homes, made our introduction into Parenting Land, sweet, memorable and private. The way it should be.
The other children's homecoming was more heralded and much more noisy! Rhiannon welcomed Devon with a scepticism that was to become her trademark. At 2 years and 4 months, she just could not figure out who and why this new little guy was upstaging her at every turn. Fortunately, her beloved Daddy was able to take off work for a while to entertain her and to assure her that all was well in Rhiannonland. Devon was a quiet, cooperative and very flexible little baby, so Rhiannon barely noticed that he was an issue after the initial hubbub died down. Jordan came home early in the morning to his excited grandparents, another skeptical four year old and and really little six year old 'other mom'! He was passed around so many times that his blankets got worn spots! I held him as he nursed, but he had plenty other arms for most of the time. Calin's homecoming was wild and crazy and noisy as her three siblings and dog Tessa, raucously welcomed her home.
Each homecoming different and special in it's own way and each one riveted into my memory...
Saturday, October 27, 2007
New Babies
I have a new pretend grandbaby. This sweet little girl was born on Thursday and I have yet to meet her. But this does not mean that I am not connected to this long awaited child. I have a personal thing about greeting a newborn once Mama is safely home and settled and has done all the private things that a Mama needs to do when she is giving birth. I consider childbirth as a sacred, holy and completely intimate event between a husband and wife. Bleachers of people gaping at the new couple with their infant, waiting for some sort of performance, annoys me to no end and I will not be a part of it no matter how desperately I want to see them all. It is a courtesy I shall extend to my own children when their time arrives. I shall put my crazily greedy grandma grubby hands under control while I consider this their time, precious and sweet. There will be plenty of time for me to spend long hours of play and cuddling, introducing myself and imprinting on the child just how valuable I think she is...
While I was awaiting this new little girl, Allison, I was babysitting another of my little friends, Grant. He is 7 months old and at that wonderful stage of exploring with all his senses. He is trying baby food and touching and manipulating toys. He is understanding the cadence of story books and knows instinctively who has passed inspection and who has not. I have been enamored with him since the month that I watched him while his mama made arrangements to stay with him at home, leaving her very profitable job and seeking home employment. It was a pleasure to help her in her honorable quest and selfishly, it was a joy to sit on my porch swing and sing my little 2 month old friend to sleep in the quiet of a summer afternoon. The Grantmeister, as we call him, will be delighted with his new little friend, Allison, and I can't wait till they both are sitting at my dining room table, playing with play dough and painting pictures to decorate my kitchen walls.
So I welcome you Allison, to my growing list of pretend grandbabies! I hope this world treats you well and that you find exciting adventures ahead. Your Mama and Daddy are good, good friends of mine and I have always wished them the best so I believe that you are the best that God has to give for them and I rejoice in that. Ah, the joy of a new soul, a new life in this tainted old world! Fresh air from the God that created it all!!!
While I was awaiting this new little girl, Allison, I was babysitting another of my little friends, Grant. He is 7 months old and at that wonderful stage of exploring with all his senses. He is trying baby food and touching and manipulating toys. He is understanding the cadence of story books and knows instinctively who has passed inspection and who has not. I have been enamored with him since the month that I watched him while his mama made arrangements to stay with him at home, leaving her very profitable job and seeking home employment. It was a pleasure to help her in her honorable quest and selfishly, it was a joy to sit on my porch swing and sing my little 2 month old friend to sleep in the quiet of a summer afternoon. The Grantmeister, as we call him, will be delighted with his new little friend, Allison, and I can't wait till they both are sitting at my dining room table, playing with play dough and painting pictures to decorate my kitchen walls.
So I welcome you Allison, to my growing list of pretend grandbabies! I hope this world treats you well and that you find exciting adventures ahead. Your Mama and Daddy are good, good friends of mine and I have always wished them the best so I believe that you are the best that God has to give for them and I rejoice in that. Ah, the joy of a new soul, a new life in this tainted old world! Fresh air from the God that created it all!!!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Lessons from Errands
Just came back from a quick errand trip and learned two profound lessons that can be taught to your child.
1. It was pouring rain, that cold October type of rain when I left. I approached a stop sign to see a youngish woman, maybe late 20's riding a bicycle, no jacket, just a pullover sweater, long hair pulled back in a ponytail, carrying a grocery bag on the handle bars. Now, if my kids would have been with me, I would have asked them, why do you think that woman is riding her bike in the cold, pouring rain? It had been raining all morning, so it wasn't as if she got caught in a downpour. No, her trip was intentional and obviously needy. What was in her bag that was so important as to risk health to procure it? I would use this incident to be a catylyst for a critical thinking type of conversation. Investigate thoughts your kids could have to see how actions have ramifications.
2. While I was in the grocery store, the son of a past acquaintance came in to shop. He graduated from the local high school, but shortly after graduation announced that he was gay. I knew his family and saw the chaos that he came from and followed his dubious trek for attention for several years. A sad, sad scenario. Inattentive parents, consumed with their problems while their children are bleeding out. This young man needed his father's attention and his mothers good emotional health to become all that he could be. Now, he is endangering himself with his lifestyle and example to his younger siblings. Please, please, when you take on the committment to be a parent, remember that for many years, the children will have to come first in you and your spouse's life......Nurture so that the adult years of your children become an opportunity for some of the best friends you could ever have.....Invest the young years well......
1. It was pouring rain, that cold October type of rain when I left. I approached a stop sign to see a youngish woman, maybe late 20's riding a bicycle, no jacket, just a pullover sweater, long hair pulled back in a ponytail, carrying a grocery bag on the handle bars. Now, if my kids would have been with me, I would have asked them, why do you think that woman is riding her bike in the cold, pouring rain? It had been raining all morning, so it wasn't as if she got caught in a downpour. No, her trip was intentional and obviously needy. What was in her bag that was so important as to risk health to procure it? I would use this incident to be a catylyst for a critical thinking type of conversation. Investigate thoughts your kids could have to see how actions have ramifications.
2. While I was in the grocery store, the son of a past acquaintance came in to shop. He graduated from the local high school, but shortly after graduation announced that he was gay. I knew his family and saw the chaos that he came from and followed his dubious trek for attention for several years. A sad, sad scenario. Inattentive parents, consumed with their problems while their children are bleeding out. This young man needed his father's attention and his mothers good emotional health to become all that he could be. Now, he is endangering himself with his lifestyle and example to his younger siblings. Please, please, when you take on the committment to be a parent, remember that for many years, the children will have to come first in you and your spouse's life......Nurture so that the adult years of your children become an opportunity for some of the best friends you could ever have.....Invest the young years well......
Pure Gold
I remember when I was a young mother, eagerly listening to women with years, hoping to learn through osmosis, some wonderful pearl of wisdom.....Fast forward 30 years and I find myself in the amazing position of having young mamas wanting to listen to me! This blog will be for the new mom who has just found out that the wonderful new baby that she has delivered, does not come with instructions! For the overwhelmed mama of a toddler that is waiting for the day that she takes him to college, there is hope!
I hope the words that you find here will encourage you, lighten your day, give you hope and make you laugh (and cry!).....
I hope you enjoy my reflections of my 30 years of being Mama.......
I hope the words that you find here will encourage you, lighten your day, give you hope and make you laugh (and cry!).....
I hope you enjoy my reflections of my 30 years of being Mama.......
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